since his State of the Union Address, President Obama and Vice President Biden have been talking about their efforts to help students afford to go to college, which is something we are all in favor of. The President's proposals include what he calls a higher education race to the top. It has a familiar sounding formula. Though, in this case, it will impose new rules and mandates and price controls on colleges and universities in States. Unfortunately, this race to the top is headed in the wrong direction. The President should turn around his higher education race to the top and head it in the direction of Washington, DC, to help the federal government compete for ways to stop adding mandates and costs on States that are soaking up dollars and driving college tuition through the roof. Let me be specific and offer three examples of how a race to the top headed toward Washington, DC, could actually help students by saving them money on their tuition. First, Washington could stop overcharging students on their student loans. They are doing that now by borrowing money at 2.8 percent, loaning it to students at 6.8 percent, and using the profit to help pay for the new health care law and other government programs. Second, Washington could help students with lower tuition by repealing the new Medicaid mandates on States that take effect in 2014.…
On the recordFebruary 9, 2012
Said by
Heidi Alexander
Labour Party
Source
govinfo.govShare
More from Heidi Alexander
Jul 30, 2020
I ask unanimous consent to speak for 10 minutes when the afternoon votes are concluded. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
Dec 3, 2020
here is my view of serving in the U.S. Senate: It is hard to get here, it is hard to stay here, and while you are here, you might as well try to accomplish something good for the country. Accomplishing something good in the U.S. Senate…
Jun 21, 2026
I’m grateful to emergency services who are on the scene, attending to those affected.
Jul 20, 2020
our great country has developed a dangerous habit when it comes to pandemics. Public health experts call it panic, neglect, panic. In 2007, after the emergence of the Asian flu, former Utah Governor Mike Leavitt, who was then the Secretary…





